Arts & Culture

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A play about legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi will be staged at the Aurora Theatre this winter.

Lombardi enjoyed a brief run on Broadway in 2010 and 2011 -- appropriately, at the same time the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV and took home the Lombardi trophy. The play is based on the book When Pride Still Mattered -- A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss.

The Aurora Theatre's staging of Les Misérables was one of this year's big winners. It took home five Suzi Awards, including Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Director of a Musical and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Del Hamilton and Faye Allen, founders of 7 Stages Theatre. The duo started the Little Five Point theater company in 1979. Today, it's one of metro Atlanta's most popular and respected theaters.

Those who missed this gathering of legendary guitarists can still experience it -- without leaving metro Atlanta.

A special film presentation of the festival will screen at several theaters on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. It features behind-the-scenes footage and some of the best concerts from the two-day jam session.

Musicians featured in the film include Gregg Allman, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Keith Urban and, of course, Eric Clapton.

"The Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival has long been one of the premiere events in music, and communities of fans nationwide will enjoy the ultimate concert experience on the big screen with amazing sound and front row seats," Dan Diamond, senior vice president of business development for NCM Fathom, said in a statement. Fathom will host the Aug. 13 film screenings.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- One of the most popular musicals of all time will make its way to the Aurora Theatre stage this month.

The Lawrenceville theater's production of Les Misérables will open Thursday, July 25 and run through Sunday, Sept. 8.

Les Misérables tells the classic story of Jean Valjean, a former convict who breaks his parole and spends his life dodging the persistent Inspector Javert. He becomes adoptive father to a little girl named Cosette and eventually arrives in Paris, where a student uprising is about to take to the streets.

Aurora Theatre is the very first local professional theater company to produce Les Misérables.

Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $30 to $40. There will also be $20 Wednesday matinees on Aug. 14, 21 and 28 at 10 a.m.